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Skeletal pathology and variable anatomy in elephant feet assessed using computed tomography.

ABSTRACT: Foot problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elephants, but are underreported due to difficulties in diagnosis, particularly of conditions affecting the bones and internal structures. Here we evaluate post-mortem computer tomographic (CT) scans of 52 feet from 21 elephants (seven African Loxodonta africana and 14 Asian Elephas maximus), describing both pathology and variant anatomy (including the appearance of phalangeal and sesamoid bones) that could be mistaken for disease. We found all the elephants in our study to have pathology of some type in at least one foot. The most common pathological changes observed were bone remodelling, enthesopathy, osseous cyst-like lesions, and osteoarthritis, with soft tissue mineralisation, osteitis, infectious osteoarthriti, subluxation, fracture and enostoses observed less frequently. Most feet had multiple categories of pathological change (81% with two or more diagnoses, versus 10% with a single diagnosis, and 9% without significant pathology). Much of the pathological change was focused over the middle/lateral digits, which bear most weight and experience high peak pressures during walking. We found remodelling and osteoarthritis to be correlated with increasing age, more enthesopathy in Asian elephants, and more cyst-like lesions in females. We also observed multipartite, missing and misshapen phalanges as common and apparently incidental findings. The proximal (paired) sesamoids can appear fused or absent, and the predigits (radial/tibial sesamoids) can be variably ossified, though are significantly more ossified in Asian elephants. Our study reinforces the need for regular examination and radiography of elephant feet to monitor for pathology and as a tool for improving welfare.

SUBMITTER: Regnault S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5248576 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Skeletal pathology and variable anatomy in elephant feet assessed using computed tomography.

Regnault Sophie S Dixon Jonathon J I JJ Warren-Smith Chris C Hutchinson John R JR Weller Renate R

PeerJ 20170118

Foot problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elephants, but are underreported due to difficulties in diagnosis, particularly of conditions affecting the bones and internal structures. Here we evaluate post-mortem computer tomographic (CT) scans of 52 feet from 21 elephants (seven African <i>Loxodonta africana</i> and 14 Asian <i>Elephas maximus</i>), describing both pathology and variant anatomy (including the appearance of phalangeal and sesamoid bones) that could be mistaken f ...[more]

PMID: 28123909

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Project description:An understanding of the pulp cavity anatomy of individual teeth is essential for success during endodontic therapy. The objective of this study was to document pulp cavity anatomy and summarize numerical data of maxillary and mandibular canine teeth of domestic cats using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Thirty-nine canine teeth from eleven domestic cat cadaveric specimens were extracted and prepared for scanning. Segmentation of the pulp cavity was performed using the Avizo (v2022.2) software package. The morphological features of the pulp cavity including overall shape, configuration, presence of apical deltas and lateral canals was recorded. A quantitative analysis was performed on thirty-one teeth to explore associations between pulp cavity volume and length, apical delta length, maximum apical delta foramina number and cusp-to-tip length using a linear mixed model. Correlation between pertinent continuous variables was assessed using a Pearson's correlation test. Most pulp cavities exhibited varying curvature and ranged from a cylindrical configuration in the coronal third to an ovoid configuration in the middle to apical third. A ribbon-like flattened canal was observed in 6/31 teeth (19%). All canine teeth depicted an apical delta with various configurations except for two teeth that showed a single canal exiting at the apex. In 15/31 teeth (48%), the primary root canal within the apical delta could be clearly identified and in 16/31 (52%) the primary root canal was indiscernible. The results showed that the pulp cavities of maxillary canine teeth were significantly larger and longer and the cusp-to-tip length was longer, when compared to mandibular teeth. The apical delta length was negatively correlated to the volume of the pulp cavity. No specimens depicted lateral canals. This study revealed that the anatomy of the canine tooth pulp cavity in cats can vary considerably and should be a consideration when performing thorough debridement, shaping and obturation of the endodontic system.

Dataset Information

Skeletal pathology and variable anatomy in elephant feet assessed using computed tomography.

Publications

Skeletal pathology and variable anatomy in elephant feet assessed using computed tomography.

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